Health and Medicine

First Aid and Poisons

What is the poison on arrows used by South American Indians to kill prey and enemies?

The botanical poison used by the Aucas and similar tribes in the South American jungles is curare. It is a sticky, black mixture with the appearance of licorice and is processed from either of two different vines. One is a liana (Chondodendron tomentosum); the other is a massive, tree-like vine (Strychonos quianensis).